Page 36 of Beautiful Enemy

Anya

“We have to make a deal with Dante,” Erik says to the group of men. Viktor, Ivan, and my father look at each other uncertainly. I stand near the back of Erik’s office, my mind distracted with thoughts of Nadia’s finger. The box is on Erik’s desk. Taunting me. Mocking me. Telling me I’m a horrible sister for not saving Nadia sooner.

Erik’s hacker guy is still trying to locate the house we could see in the photo but so far, no luck. What was a good idea is starting to become pointless.

My father scoffs. “I am not making a deal with that devil. No.”

“Not for your own daughter?” Viktor asks in a calm, low voice. He doesn’t need to raise his voice to be heard. His large presence is felt in every room he’s in.

“Dante sent Nadia’s finger” – Erik glances in my direction and I have to look away – “to us and that can’t stand. Who knows how else he’ll hurt her?”

“Do we know for a fact that it’s Nadia’s finger?” Ivan’s question is loud in the room. The question holds so much weight.

“What do you mean?” I ask. “Who’s finger would it be if not for Nadia’s? It’s a small finger. Her fingers are small. The skin tone matches.”

“Yes, but you could do a test. It’s a finger. You have the fingerprint. You could see if it’s Nadia’s.”

“But it will take too long to run it through the system. And need I remind you that Nadia’s fingerprints are not in the system, so if it’s hers, it won’t show up,” Erik explains. “And if it’s not hers, and it’s somehow someone else’s, it might not show up either.”

“It’s still worth looking into,” Ivan says.

“True. But it could take a while before we get the results. I have a cop I pay off but it will still take time. Time we don’t have.” Erik sighs. “The matter of the fact is, Nadia is in danger, even if this isn’t her finger. And if it’s not, that means Dante is hurting other women in the process. Probably innocent women. We need to stop him. I will send him a message offering a time and place to meet.”

My father makes an ugly sound in the back of his throat. “And offer him what in return? He won’t just give up Nadia without anything.”

Erik glances at me again before turning back to my father. I know what he’s going to say before he even says it. “That’s why I’ll offer myself in return. This war between Dante started with him and me. I need to be the one to end it.”

“But if you’re dead,” Viktor muses, “then what’s to stop Dante from coming back for Nadia? Or for Anya?”

“You. You will marry Nadia once we get her back and you will protect Anya.”

Viktor inclines his head. “Of course. It’s still risky. The better option would be to kill Dante.”

“Obviously,” my father mutters.

Viktor ignores him as he speaks to Erik. “Can you make a trade with Dante – give yourself up for Nadia but then kill Dante right after?”

“I can try.”

“But that puts Nadia at risk,” I cut in. “If she’s caught in the crosshairs, she could die.”

“I’ll only attack Dante once Nadia is free and clear of the place.”

“But then you might die.”

Erik gives me a soft, sad look. “I know. And a few years ago, I would have done anything to keep myself from dying. But I’m a changed man. I will fight for you and Nadia. I will offer up my life so your sister is safe. I am doing this for both of you.” He comes over to me and cups my face. “I am doing this to save your life.”

“I’m not in danger.”

“No. But your mind is. You will slowly die if Nadia is not safe, so that is my gift to you. Let me save your sister.”

“But then that means I lose you too and I can’t have that.”

“I’m not a good man, Anya. I’ve done a lot of bad things. If anyone deserves to die, it’s me. Not your sister. She’s completely innocent in all of this. Let me save her for you.”

I know he’s right. If that finger is really Nadia’s, then that means she’s already been mutilated. Tortured. While I don’t want to lose the man I love, I would take my sister’s safety any day. Even though that means losing my husband.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as tears spill from my eyes. “I love you.”

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